3 Types of Buffing Pads for Cars

Buffing pads don’t demand a lot of attention. They just do their work and then let the car take the spotlight.

But just because they don’t stand out doesn’t mean they’re not important. Car enthusiasts couldn’t keep their cars bright and shiny without them. 

What Do Buffing Pads Do? 

Buffing pads remove defects like scratches from cars. The more aggressive buffing pads can even remove paint. That’s because when you pour polish onto a buffing pad, the pad will keep the most abrasive parts of the polish on the surface.

A regular sponge, on the other hand, will absorb all of the polish, including the abrasive parts, so you won’t get as much out of them. 

Less aggressive pads can simply add shine without removing anything. You can use them to apply things like wax and protective coating. These buffing pads spread the product evenly. 

At first glance, you might think that all buffing pads are the same. After all, how different can one buffing pad be from the next? Very different, as it turns out.

Buffing pads have a lot more variations than a lot of people realize. And when using one on your car, it’s essential that you make the right choice. Thankfully, once you do learn the differences, making the right choice can be easy. 

Buffing Pad Materials 

First, buffing pads come in different materials. All of these materials accomplish different things, so the right choice depends on what you want to accomplish with them.

Also, some materials are more beginner-friendly than others, so consider how much experience you have before you make your choice. 

1. Foam Buffing Pads 

First, there are foam buffing pads. Foam buffing pads are the most common type of buffing pad for cars. Because people use these so often, they’re not hard to find at all. You can find them easily in auto part stores, supercenters, and often car washes.

Instead of making a special order, you might save money on shipping by picking some up during your regular errands. 

Foam buffing pads are beginner-friendly, with a lot of regularity between brands. They come in different levels of aggressiveness and are usually sorted by color.

Yellow pads are usually the most aggressive, and blue pads are usually the gentlest. Still, you should always check the label before you get started, just in case. Foam buffing pads have three main sub-types: compounding, polishing, and finishing. 

• Compounding foam pads are the most aggressive out of the three. You can use these to remove major defects. 
• Polishing foam pads are a step down from compounding pads. You would use one of these as the second step, immediately after using a compounding pad. 
• Finishing foam pads provide the least amount of aggressiveness. They can help you apply waxes, sealants, or finishes to your car. You can also use them right after using a more aggressive foam pad. 

Some manufacturers use different names for their aggressiveness levels. Some have additional categories. However, the types listed above are the most common among foam buffing pads. 

2. Wool Buffing Pads 

Whether they’re made from synthetic or authentic wool, these buffing pads are far more aggressive than foam pads. As a result, they can make a good choice for removing paint or very large defects.

Wool buffing pads are not beginner-friendly, though. They work best for more experienced users. And even more experienced users should exercise caution with wool buffing pads, especially if they’re used to something with more regularity, like foam. 

Like foam pads, wool pads have three main types. These types are: cutting, polishing, and finishing. 

• Cutting wool pads are extremely aggressive. Remember that wool is the most aggressive buffing pad, and this is the most aggressive sub-category for that kind of pad. Use a lot of caution when using these wool pads, especially if you’ve never used them before. 
• Polishing wool pads are slightly less aggressive, but they’re still more aggressive than their foam counterparts. 
• Finishing wool pads are the least aggressive of the three. 

Sometimes, these categories get combined. With some brands, wool buffing pads only come in two categories: one for more aggressive jobs and one for less aggressive jobs. Read the labels carefully before you make your purchase. 

Don’t use any wool buffing pad by itself, even if you’re using one from the finishing category. After using the least aggressive wool pad possible, use a foam pad to smooth everything out. 

3. Microfiber Buffing Pads 

Microfiber buffing pads aren’t as aggressive as wool pads, but they are more aggressive than foam pads. Even though they’re not as aggressive as wool, they’re still not exactly beginner-friendly. 

Unlike foam buffing pads, microfiber buffing pads don’t have a lot of uniformity between brands. In other words, one brand’s “finishing” pad may be just as aggressive as another brand’s “polishing” pad.

If you have to switch brands, test your microfiber pad before doing any major work with it. It may not behave the way that you’d expect it to behave. 

Still, they do have benefits. Microfiber works well on major scratches, but since it’s not as aggressive as wool, it comes with less risk. 

Microfiber buffing pads also usually come in three categories: cutting, polishing, and finishing. 

• Cutting microfiber pads are the most aggressive of the three. They work a lot like foam compounding pads, and you would use them for similar jobs. 
• Polishing microfiber pads provide a step down and can handle less extreme damage. 
• Finishing microfiber pads are the gentlest and can be used to spread a wax or sealant. 

Finishing microfiber pads, though less aggressive than their wool counterparts, still have some cutting power. You might finish the job with a foam pad once you’re done with your microfiber pad. 

Buffing Pad Designs 

On top of having different materials, buffing pads also have different surface designs. Some are textured, while others are flat. A lot of car enthusiasts swear by one or the other. Some people insist that both options work equally well. 

Textured pads add some aggressiveness and provide a little extra “grip” on the product. Flat buffing pads are gentler and can help you spread the product more evenly.

Beginners might start with flat buffing pads, since a lot of users say that flat pads provide an easier experience. 

Buffing Methods 

Once you’ve picked the perfect buffing pad, you can decide how to use it. You have two main options: buffing by hand and using a machine. 

1. Buffing Your Car by Hand 

A lot of beginners start by hand-buffing their cars instead of using a machine. It’s certainly a more beginner-friendly method. Compared to humans, buffing machines work fast and apply a lot of pressure.

It’s easy for a beginner to press too hard. But hand-buffing uses less pressure, so it leaves less room for mistakes. It’s also less intimidating for those who have never used buffing pads before. 

Hand-buffing your car is also less expensive than using a machine. Buffing pads themselves are relatively inexpensive, and if you’re going to hand-buff your car, those are all you need.

And for small scratches and defects, hand-buffing is often enough to finish the job, whether or not you’re a beginner in this area. In fact, beginners aren’t the only people who often choose hand-buffing over machine-buffing.

Even advanced car enthusiasts would sometimes rather buff their cars by hand. For some, hand-buffing creates a more personal and rewarding experience. 

The disadvantage, of course, is that machines are more efficient and powerful than humans. Buffing your car by hand will require a lot more effort than buffing your car by machine, especially if your car has any major scratches or water spots. 

2. Buffing Your Car With a Machine 

Once you get comfortable with buffing your car, using a machine has a lot of advantages. They work quickly and apply more pressure, so you can finish the job in a fraction of the time. They also require a lot less effort on the user’s part.

This is especially true if your car has large spots and scratches. You can also choose from different kinds of machines, including rotary buffers, orbital buffers, and dual-action polishers. 

However, machine-buffing isn’t always a beginner-friendly option. That doesn’t mean that you should never use a machine to buff your car, but you may want to start with hand-buffing until you get the hang of things.

Once you feel comfortable with the buffing process, you might switch to a machine. Machines come with more risk of removing too much clear coat or even paint. You can avoid a lot of this risk by using an entry-level buffing machine.

These machines stop spinning as soon as the user applies too much pressure. This way, you can get used to applying just the right amount. 

And of course, machine-buffing is more expensive than buffing by hand, so think about how often you’ll use it. If you do a lot of work on cars, a new machine can be worth the expense. 

Stepping Down Your Buffing Pads 

You’ve picked your buffing pad material, and you’ve decided your buffing method. Now, you’ll need to make sure you use your buffing pads correctly. Whether you use a machine or do your buffing by hand, the key is to use a stepping-down method.

Unless you start with the least-aggressive buffing pad available, you should never end with the same buffing pad you started with. If you start with a cutting or compounding pad, for instance, then you should use a polishing pad right after that.

And after using a polishing pad, follow it up with a finishing pad. This way, you avoid unevenness and create a smooth finish.